Bisignano: What's to become of a university degree?

Many Iowa students take on a lot of debt for a college education. Iowa ranks ninth among states most affected by student debt, according to WalletHub. That’s why it makes no sense to further cut funding for higher education.

Leaders in the House and Senate made a last-ditch effort to balance their current state budget by immediately cutting $35 million from many agencies and programs.

Among the hardest hit are our public universities. Our three state universities account for about 7 percent of the state budget. However, Senate File 2117, signed by the governor, forces the University of Iowa and Iowa State to bear the burden of 44 percent — almost $11 million — of the late-year budget cuts.

All told, Iowa’s public universities have been cut nearly $50 million in the past 12 months, a reduction of almost 10 percent. Funding for our public universities is less than it was in 1998.

These cuts will make college more expensive and less accessible for many kids from working families. That’s bad news when we’re trying to boost our number of skilled workers to fill immediate Iowa job openings.

Our universities are economic engines for our economy. Iowa must invest in them to create more opportunities for our children and grandchildren.

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STATE SEN. TONY BISIGNANO, D-Des Moines, represents District 17. The district includes portions of central and south Des Moines. He can be reached at 281-3371, 371-5990 or tony.bisignano@legis.iowa.gov.